Wearable microphone amplifier



A. B. MUNDEL. ETAL WEARABLE MICROPHONE AMPLIFIER Filed April 6; 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ngi INVENTOR uyus! Hunde! Hei/nan /A Karen q S MQW ATTORNEY A. B. MUNDEL ETAL WEARABLE MIcRorHomaA AMPLIFIER 4 sheets-smeet 2 Filed April 6. 1940 dn R www NMK. w wW n n A mm L? WMM AH Oct. 20, 1942. A. B. MUNDEL. ETAL 2,299,558

i WEARBLE MICROPHONE AMPLIFIER Filed April 6, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 16

Fig. 14' [i918 n f /f//l INVENTOR ugus B. Munde] s MQW@ -J ATToRNEv OQO Oct. 20, 1942. A.B. MUNDEL ETAL y WEARABLE MICROPHONE AMPLIFIER Filed April 6. 1940 4 Sheets-Shea? 4 lNvENToR I uguslNuna/el and Heimz k//faren .BY S M QM.,

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 20, `1942 tUNITED STATES f PATENT OFFICE MICROPHONE AMPLIFIER August B. Mandel, White Plains, and Heiman William Koren, Bronx, N. Y., assignors to Sonotone Corporation, Elmsford, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April s, 1910, serial No. 328,366*

7 Claims.

This invention relates to wearable microphone amplifiers of the type used in hearing aids del signed to be worn on the body of the user.

Among the objects of the invention is a microphone amplifier of the foregoing type which is so arranged on a support by means of which it is worn on the body of the user as to maintain the amplifier in its eiiicient operating condition irreence being had to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a wearable gearing aid equipped with a microphone amplif Fig. 2 is a view similar to`Fig. 1 illustrating diagrammatically one form of the ampliiier o1 the invention;

Fig. 3 is a vertical pli'fler; v

Fig. 4 is a view along line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view along line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a rear view oi' the showing in Fig. 3 with the housing broken away;

FiFig. 7 is a horimntal view along line 1 1 of '8- i FFigi 8 is a horizontal view along line 8 2 of Fig. 9 is an exploded diagrammatic view of another form of a microphone hearing aid ampilier'exemplifying .another form vof the invent on;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of parts shown in elevation of the ampliner of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a view along line Il llofFig. 10;

Fig. 12Y isv a vertical sectional view along line n n of Fig. 10;-- f

` Fig. 13 is a view along line Il ll of Fig, 10:

liisaview similar'to Fig. 3.o! another microphone amplifier exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged horizontal sectional vie'w along` line IS-llot Fig. .14 showing parts of the amplifier;

Fig. 16 is a vertical sectional IS-II of Fig. 15; Y

Fig. 17 is a view along line Il I'l of Figli;

sectional view of such amviewv alone wjfl; 18 is a viewalong line Il ll 0f Fig. 14;V

Fiilvlsa horizontal detailed'view. o! apart of the mechanism of Fig. 15; q

a side portionoi 5 illustrating another form of vibratoryl micro;- phone diaphragm electrode;

Fig. 21 is a plan view of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a cross-sectional view along line 22-22 of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a plan view of the main diaphragm unit of the diaphragm structure of Figs. 20 and 21; and

F.ig.-24 is a plan view of a supporting element for the microphone electrode ofrsuch diaphragm l structure.

A typical Iwearable microphone ampliiier hearing aid of the type generally used in the past is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. It comprises a transmitter casing in which is. mounted a transmitter microphone 2|, a control unit 22, which is shown mounted in the transmitter casing, a hearing inducing receiver, such as an air conduction receiver or a bone conduction receiver, having an actuating winding 23, and a microphone amplifier 24 usually enclosed onl a casing. which is supported on the top of a battery casing 25,

' a multi-conductor cord 31 establishing the interconnections between the several elements o! the hearing aid.

The battery casing 25 is usually of ilat shape and encloses several battery cells which are connected to battery terminal sleeves 28, 29 secured in the top of the battery casing. The amplier unit 24 is usually mounted in a fixed position on the top of the battery casing 25 by means of two battery terminal plugs 28, 21 extending from the bottom of the ampliiier casing and held in slidable Vengagement within the terminal sleeves 2l, 29 oi' the battery 25. A

Within the amplier casing is mounted an ampliiier chamber 30 holding a loose iilling oi.' microphone carbon granules between a stationary microphone electrode Il and a vibratory microphone electrode 32, which is vibrated by an electromagnetic vibrating unit having actuating windings I3. 'I'he vibratory microphone. electrode 32 and one end of its actuating winding I3 are connected to one ampliiler-battery plug 21 n.20 is a .cross-secumnview similar to rigand the other amplifier-battery plug 2l is connected to one of the three socket terminalymembers Il, 35, It o! the ampliner to which the leads of the ilexible cord l1 are connected.

In the normal operating condition of the hearing aid, when the slider contact of the control unit 22 engages the associated contactstrip l! and rheostat vstrip 2l, the microphone 2| is connected in series with the .amplier actuating winding It to the battery terminals 2l, 21 for supplying speech frequency modulated input currents to'the amplifier winding 33, and the amplier microphone 30 is connected in series with the receiver winding 23 to the battery terminals for actuating the receiver with the amplified speech frequency output currents produced by the vibratory motion imparted to vibratory microphone 1 electrode 32. As disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,105,296, a small electrolytic condenser 38 housed in the microphone casing and connected parallel to the amplifier microphone electrodes 3i, 32 in order to make it possible to suppress disturbing impulses superimposed on the amplified current when operating at a relatively high gain.

The operation of such microphone amplifiers depends on the variation of the contact resistance between a large number of microphone carbon granules loosely held between the surfaces of the twoamplier microphone electrodes 3i, 32. Accordingly, provision must be made to assure that the loosely held microphone granules shall at all times maintain contact engagement with surfaces of the amplier microphone electrodes 3i, 32. microphone electrode 32 and also the stationary microphone electrode 3i between which the amplifier microphone granules are held, shall have their surfaces aligned in a generally vertical direction while the microphone amplifier is worn by the user.

In order to assure that the amplifier microphone electrode surfaces shall remain in vertical position when the amplier is worn by the user, it is provided with a support having an aligning surface facing a portion of the body of the user against which it is worn, the aligning surface being so arranged as to, so far as possible, automatically align the amplifier microphone electrode surfaces in a generally vertical direction.

In most of the commercially sold hearing aids, the amplier support is formed by the fiat battery casing having a fiat side wall serving as the aligning surface which automatically aligns the battery in a vertical position when it is held against a normally vertical body portion oi the user, and the amplifier is usually mounted by the detachable plugs on the horizontal top of the battery so as to assure that as long as the aligning surface of ,its battery support is held in its normal vertical position against a vertical body portion, v'the amplierV microphone electrodes shall remain aligned in a general vertical direction.

There are, in general, two ways in which users of hearing aids wear a hearing aid battery and the -microphone amplifier mounted on the top thereof. tery with its fiat aligning surface bearing against a side portion of the body, such as against the side of the thigh, or against the .side of the ribs, under the arm. Another group of users wear the battery with its at aligning wall bearing against a front or rear portion of the body, as in a vest or hip pocket.

As long as the body portion against which such hearing aid amplifier support is wom remains in vertical condition, the support will maintain the amplifier microphone electrodes in vertical condition. Difculties arise, however, if the body portion against which the ampliner support, such as. the battery casing, is aligned, is tilted from a vertical to a horizontal position. Thus, if a perampliner microphone electrodes aligned vertically' One large group of users wear the bat- This in turn requires that the vibratory son wearing the aligning surface of the microescasas to the aligning surface of the support will not remain in the vertical direction, but will be tilted to a substantially horizontal position, thereby rendering the amplier microphone partially or completely inoperative.

Similarly, if a person wearing the aligning surface of the -microphone amplifier support against a front or rear portion of the body tilts his body rearwardly, in leaning, for instance, back in his chair from vertical to almost horizontal position, the amplifier microphone electrodes' aligned parallel to the aligning surface of the support will not remain in vertical position, but will be tilted to an angular position, thereby rendering the amplifier microphone partially or completely inoperative.

As a result, a person having a hearing aid with a microphone amplifier designed to be worn on a support held against the front or the rear of his body, is exposed to trouble when, in changing over to another garment, he places the battery casing support of the microphone amplier in a pocket held against a side portion of his body, such as under the arm, since a slight tilt of his body upsets the operation of his hearing aid.

The invention overcomes these dimculties by arranging a hearing aid microphone amplier on a support by means of which. it is worn on the body of the user so as to make it possible to maintain its microphone electrode surface in a generally vertical position when the body portion against which it is Worn is tilted from a vertical to horizontal position irrespective of whether the -aligning surface of the support is held against 25 having a at side wall 39 serving as an aligning surface for aligning the battery casing and the ampliiier microphone mounted thereon against the facing body portion of the user.

The amplier is arranged to be detachably held on the fiat normally horizontal top of the battery casing 25 by two downwardly projecting battery plugs 26, 2i, slidably tting into terminai socket sleeves 28, 2t secured within the top of the battery casing. lin the form shown, the plug pin 2t is clamped to the base d@ by the threaded engagement of its inwardly 'projecting screw stud with a clamping nut Si seated in the base plate. The plug pin 2l is clamped to the base plate it by the threaded engagement of its screw stud with a pivot pin i2 held clamped to the other side of the base and projecting upwardly therefrom.

The base plate s@ is made of suitableinsulating material, such as a molded synthetic resin, and has an upwardly projecting terminal block te in which are embedded three tenal bushings St, 35, Se designed to receive suitable plug connectors of the cordI 31.', a compartment provided in the upward extension of the terminal l block-fit serving to house the condenser t associated with the amplifier.

In the upwardly facing side of the base plate Y 2,299,558 mounted in the compartment above the terminal block 48 is held in position by a clamping collar 82 which is connected through a suitable connector strip to the underlying terminal bushing 38 of the terminal block, the other terminal of the condenser 38 being connected through an insulating lead 88 to the pivot pin 42 and therethrough to the battery plug 21 in the way indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 2.

On the pivot pin 82, in sliding engagement with the underlying base plate I8, is revolvably mounted a self-contained microphone amplifier unit 88, which is so-arranged as to make it possible to maintain the electrode surface ot its amplier microphone in a generally vertical position while its support, in the present case its battery 25, is tilted from its vertical position in a direction either parallel or perpendicular to its aligning surface 38 by means oi which it is aligned against the body portion oi the user on which it is worn. v

In the form shown, the amplifier unit 88 com- A prises a circular mounting plate 8| fitting over the underlying suriaceoif the base plate 88 and an angular bracket 821s suitably secured to the mounting plate 8| so as to hold the electromagnetic vibrating structure with.- its actuating coil 33 and the ampliiier microphone chamber 38 with its amplier microphone electrodes 3|, 32 in their operating positions. The electromagnetic system of the vibrating structure comprises a magnetic yoke bar 88 having a central pole piece 66 adjustably held within a threaded core sleeve 61 and two magnetic lugs 88 suitably clamped to the ends of the magnetic-yoke 85 by a pole plate 88. A coil formed of actuating windings 38 is mounted on the pole piece. The electromagnetic system is suitably secured as by screws to the upwardly projecting arm oi the mounting bracket 82, a hole in the bracket providing vaccess to the slot provided in the outer end of the pole base 85 so as to enable adjustment oi its pole piece.

A microphone chamber 38 in the form of a self-contained unit is held in its4 operative position in iront of the pole plate. It comprises a chamber plate 18 of good heat conducting material, such as brass, having a central chamber opening within which is iirmly xed a circular microphone chamberwall 1| of suitable insulating material, such as synthetic resin. The outer side of the microphone chamber is enclosed by the stationary microphone electrode 3l, of carbon, for instance, which is held in place by a spring strip 13, oi' spring metal, for instance, having two arms suitably clamped, as by screws 18 to the chamber plate so as to be held in front of the poleface of the pole piece 88 and the adjoining concentric face portion of the pole plate 88.

'The vibratory microphone electrode 32 which is usually of carbon has its outer side stiiened by a layer 85 of brass, for instance, Vthe rim of which is united, as by soldering, across a spacer washer 86 to a ring-shaped diaphragm section A81 of an intermediate diaphragm having four inwardly extending spoke-like spring strips 88 joining it to its central intermediate diaphragm section 88 which is united, as by soldering, across a spacer' 88, to the main diaphragm section 8| to ,which the armature 88 is united.

To secure stable operation of the intermediate diaphragm unit formed of the outer rim vsection 81 and the central section 88 and the interconnecting spokes 88, its rim section 81 is provided with spoke-like strip extensions 8l terminating in two clamping end strips 82 overlying the end strips 83 of themain diaphragm and united thereto, as by soldering, across interposed spacer strips 88.

'I'he diaphragm unit is thus formed of the main diaphragm structure 8|, 82, 83 and the intermediate diaphragm structure 81, 88, 88, 8|, 82, each having the same overall dimensions and Y each having spoke-like diagonally extending spring strip extensions through which the central Vdiaphragm sections are connected to the end sections by means of which the diaphragms are held clamped in their vibrating positions.

The diaphragm structure so formedis clamped in its operating position in which the diaphragm electrode 32 holds the microphone granules in the vibratory position within the microphonezchamber by means of two clamping blocks 88 which are secured by the screws 18 to the corners ot the microphone chamber plate 18, in the way shown in Fig. 3. By making the diaphragm structures from a relatively wide strip having clamping end strips joined tojan intermediate dia-Y sponse in the principal speech frequency range.

in the way shown in Fig. 8, an'insulating spacer 18 being interposed between the clamping strip 13 and a terminal contact plate 18 held against the outer side Voi! the stationary microphone electrode 3| for providing a terminal connection thereto. The loose microphone granul'e iilling in the space bounded by the microphone chamberv wall 1| is held therein and vibrated by the vibratory microphone electrode 32, usually oi! carbon, which is held in a vibratory condition by a diaphragm unit 18 which is clamped to the chamber plate 18 by screws 18.-

As shownin Figs. 3 to 5,the diaphragm unit 18 has a main diaphragm structure formed of a central diaphragm section, having four spokeilike arms 82 and clampingend strips 88 pmched Ironia spring metal sheet, such as steel. An

armature'oi magnetic material is united as by' -solderingto'thecentral diaphragm section 8|v At the Vsame time, the large width of such vibratory diaphragm structures assures their stable operation and prevents unbalancing forces from bringing their central vibratory portions from their aligned operating positions.

Although in the form shown, the central diaphragm sections 8|, 81, 88 of the two diaphragm structures are circular in form and are joined to their end strips by diagonally extending spokelike spring strips so as to have an overall rectangular shape, the principles underlying the design 'of such diaphragm structures 'will suggest many other forms of such diaphragm structures having the 'same structural and operating advantages.

In the practical design of the vibratory micro having a resonant frequency in one part ci the` speech frequency range between about 1500 cycles and 2000 cycles, and the vlbratory structure formed of the spring Asections 81, 88, 88 and the vibratory microphone electrode 32 carried thereby. are designed to'forni a vibrating system having a resonant frequency in another part of the frequency range around 3000 cycles, and the spoke elements 9i, by means of which the spring structure tl, 8d, 89 is joined to the clamping strips 93, are very exible and are only suiciently stiff to assure stable operation of the vibratory electrode with all of its parts vibrating in the same phase, and prevent it from undergoing undesirable modes of motion, such as tilting and rocking, as it is driven towards and away from the microphone granules in the microphone chamber.

The coupled vibratory systems so united in the vibratory microphone electrode structure make it possible to obtain a very good frequency response up to about 3500 cycles or more, as distinguished from the best prior microphones which had much poorer output frequency characteristics, and the frequency range of which was limited to less than 2500 cycles.

The frequency response of such microphone amplifier may be improved by applyingzdamping means, such as strips of a jelly-like cellulose or vinyl-chloride resin, to the spring strips of the vibrating structure. Y'

, Such vibrating diaphragm structures make it thus possible to construct a very compact electromagnetic vibrating unit having a good overall response over a'. large part. of the principal speech frequency range, andy this in turn makes it possible to design a very-compact hearing aid microphone amplier having a good response over the principal part of the speech frequency range.

In the practical construction of such diaphragm unit, the magnetic armature and the microphone amplifier electrode are each mounted on an independent spring structure, each spring structure having the same overall dimensions. Auxiliary suspension members are formed as a part of thespring structure used to suspend the vibratory amplifier electrode. The auxiliary suspension spring support of the amplifier microphone electrode is aiilxed to the facing portion of the spring structure on which the armature is supported by a small spacer member. The spring stru^ture on which the armature is suspended is made sufficiently stii so as to serve by itself as a supportwhich maintains the magnetic armature in its proper operating position in the magnetic ield of the associated magnetic stsyem, without requiring any assistance from the elements of the Although the spring structure of the amplier l microphone electrode support is dynamically complicated, it can be manufactured as cheaply vas a standard spring diaphragm.

The self-contained ampliiier microphone is held in its proper operating position with its armature @d spaced bya small gap in front of the pole face of the pole plate 56 by providing, forinstance, two aligning studs .95 threadedly held in the pole plate to arranged to iit into suitable aligning holes @t extending through the end portions of the microphone chamber plate and the electrode diaphragm unit secured thereto so that by aligning the amplifier microphone by means of the aligning studs and aligning holes S5, ES, the amplifier microphone unit, will be automatically brought into its proper operating position.

As shown in Fig. 4f, a U-shaped clamp @i may be provided to hold the microphone chamber clamped in its position against the electromagnetic system, the clamp having on one side a leg @d engaging the back o f the mounting bracket 62 and on the opposite side two leg arms @t engaging the end surface portions of the diaphragm chamber. Any other clamping arrangements may be used, such as an elastic band, of rubber, for instance.

The amplifier microphone unit is arranged to be slidably movable on the base plate between a position in which the fiat surfaces of the microphone electrodes 3i, 32 are aligned parallel lto the aligning surface 39 of its support, in the present case the wall 39 of the battery casing 25, and a position perpendicular to the aligning surface '39 of its support, so as to maintain the amplifier l microphone electrodes in vertical direction whilethe aligning surface 39 is tilted from itsnormal vertical position to a horizontal position.

In the form shown, the amplier unit assembled thereon is' rotatably mounted on the base plate d0 by providing the mounting plate 6l with a pivot hole li fitting over the pivot pin 42y projecting from the base plate d0. The pivot pin d2 extends into a hole of the bracket t? and a spring washer 502 clamped by a, nut it engaging a threaded stud H06 upwardly projecting from the pivot pin i2 holds clamped the mounting plate di in its position on the base to permit rotation of the mounting plate -With the amplier assembly secured thereto between the position in which the microphone chamber with its electrode surfaces is aligned parallel to the aligning surface 30 of the support, in the way shown in Fig. 5, and a position angularly displaced therefrom in which the ampliiier microphone electrode surfaces are aligned perpendicular to the aligning surface 39 of the support.

A stop lug E05 downwardly projecting from the mounting plate Si into an arcuate groove H07 electrode 32 and one end of the actuating coil 33 are conductively connected to the magnetic system which in turn is conductively connected by way of its metallic supporting bracket t2 and the metallic elements ofthe pivotal junction between the bracket and the pivot pin 62 to the battery plug terminal 2? in the way indicated diagrammatically in Pig. 2. As shown in Fig. 7, the other end of the actuating coil 3@ is connected to a contact spring strip one end of which is secured, as by riveting, to the mounting plate, and the other end of which has secured thereto, as by riveting, a contact pin its downwardly projecting through a, hole in the mounting plate to maintain sliding contact engagement with the contact strip t5 of the base plate and therethrough to terminal bushing 3S in the way indicated in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 7, a similar contact spring strip i i@ is suitably secured to the mounting plate and provided with a contact pin i H downwardly transmitter microphone ampliiier microphone electrode 3| threaded engagement -space of the base plate extending in terminal block 44. 'I'he mounting plate is` pro' terminal plate 16 extending along the rear of the stationary microphone electrode 3|.

This arrangement assures that in all angular positions of the microphone unit to which it may be rotated on the base plate 40, one end of the actuating coil 33 will remain connected to the base terminal bushing 3 4 leading to the receiver 2| and the stationary will remain connected to the base. bushing 36 leading to the receiver 23 while the other end of the coil and the vibratory amplifier microphone electrode 32 re :nain connected through plug pin 21 to the batery.

A suitable housing ||5 is detachably secured to the mounting plate so as to form an enclosure around the amplifier, unit mountedl thereon, the I housing with the mounting plate being shown as having circular for Another form of microphone amplifier exemplifying the invention is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 9 and structurally in Figs. l0 to 13. It comprises a base |20, provided with terminal bushings 34 to 36 and two terminal plugs 26, 21 for mounting on the top of a battery casing 25, as in the amplifier of Figs. 2 to 5. The battery plug 21 is held in its position on the base by the of its inwardly projecting stud with an anchoring end of an upwardly projecting plug pin |2|.

Two additional upwardly projecting plug members |22, |23 are suitably secured to the base plate |20, for instance, by threaded studs held clamped within the base. The plug pin |22 is shown connected to the terminal bushing 34 of the base by a contact 'strip |24 and a contact strip |25 connects the plug |23 to the terminal bushing 36 of the base. In addition, an insulated lead 54 providing a connection to the insulated terminal of the condenser 33 extends through a groove in the base to the anchoring member of the plug pin |2| so as to provide a conducting connection thereto. A cover plate |26 having holes through'which the plugs |2|, |22, |23 project is suitably secured, as by screws, to the base to hold the contact strips -in place.

A microphone amplifier unit similar to that of Figs. 2 to 5, enclosed in a housing |29 secured to a mounting plate 30, is arranged for mounting .on the base vplate in detachable engagement with vthe plug pins 2| |22, |23 in positions in which the electrode surfaces of the amplifier microphone are aligned either parallel or perpendicular to the aligning surface of its support, such as the nat wall' 33 of the nat battery casing 25.V In the l form shown, the mounting plate |30 and the housing secured thereto are of square shape so as to llt in its difierent'aligning positions within the front of its vided with a centralhole |3| iitting over the upwardly projecting base plug |2| which is long enough so as to extend through a hole in the mounting bracket 62 of the magnetic system for detachable interlocking engagement with a retaining spring |32. v

'I'he mounting plate has two additional pairs of holes |33, |34 to tit overthe base plugs |22, |23, respectively, so as to make it .possible to mount the amplifier unit with its mounting plate in its two different operating positions, with the microphone electrode `surfaces in vertical direction aligned either in a position parallel to the aligning surface 33 of the battery support, or in a position 90 angularly displaced thereto, aligned llier when he tilts his perpendicular to the aligning surface 39 of the support.

Suitable provisions are made for automatically interconnecting ,the input and output terminals of the` amplifier microphone unit to the circuits of the hearing aid completed by the base terminals in either one or the other mounting position of the amplifier unit on the base. In the form shown, a contact spring |35, suitably secured, as by riveting, to the mounting plate |30, has two contact spring projections |35A, |35B for making contact engagement with the base plug pin |22 in either one or the other mounting positions of the ampliier unit on the base, thereby completing through the bushing 34 the circuit between one end of -the actuating winding 33 to the cord lead from the transmitter microphone 2|.

Another spring contact strip |36 suitably secured to the mounting plate |30 has at one end a contact spring projection |31 arranged toestablish contact engagement with the terminal projection of the terminal plate 36 of the stationary microphone electrode 3|, the other end of the contact `strip |36 being provided with two contact spring projections |33A, |38B for establishing detachable contact engagement with the base plug 23 in either one or the other mounting positions of the amplier unit on the base plate |20, thereby completing through the bushing 38 of the base plate the circuit from the stationary ampliner microphone to the cord lead from the receiver winding 23.

A user having a hearing aid equipped with an amplifier of the type shown in Figs. 2 to 5 may wear the amplier support, such as the battery casing, with its aligning wall 39 bearing either against a side portion or a rear or front portion of the body without running into the danger of being disturbed by inoperativeness of the amplibody, since by merely turning the amplifier in its position on the base from one position to the other, he will assure that the amplifier electrodes with the 'carbon granules i held therebetween will remain tion while his body is tilted.

Similarly, a deai'ened user having a hearing aid equipped with an ampliiier of the type shown in Figs. 9 to 13 may quickly change it to remain at all times operative, irrespective of the tilting of the body when worn either against a side portion of the body or against a rear or front portion thereof by merely lifting the ampliiier uit from in vertical posiits engagement with the upwardly projecting base by making one plug |22 plugs |2|, |23 turning it by 90- and plugging it back in the angularly turned position.

The base plug connections |22, |23 to the ampliiier unit are suitably polarized, for instance. and the cooperating holes 33 of the mounting plate smaller than the other base plug |23 and the cooperating holes |34 of the mounting plate, so as to make it impossible to mount the amplifier unit on the base plate in an improper position,

In Figs. 14 to 19 is shown another form of a hearing aid microphone amplier exemplifying the invention in which the amplifier unit is so revolvably mounted on its aligning support bearing against a body portion ot the user as to maintain the amplifier microphone electrode surface in Vertical position, irrespective of the angular position of the body portion against which it is worn.

It comprises a base plate v|40 having two down- Wardly projecting battery plugs 26, 21 and a terminal block 44` provided with cord plug bushings supporting a microphone amplifier unit formed of 'a driving electromagnetic vibratory structure and an amplifier microphone unit, such as shown and described in connection with Figs. 2 to 6.

The pivotal mounting of the amplifier unit on the gimbal brackets |i|, |42 is so designed as to permit it to swing freely on its pivot support and to be retained with amplier microphone electrode surfaces in` vertical direction irrespective of the angle to which the aligning surface 39 of the support, by means of which it is normally worn bythe user, is tilted from its normally vertical position to a horizontal position.

In the form shown, the amplifier unit is provided With two angularly shaped cradle arms it, |f37 having their inwardly bent portions suitably clamped, as by screws |68, to lateral extensions of the magnet yoke 65 of the magnetic vibrating structure, the cradle arms MB, |57 being insulated from the metallic parts of the vibrating structure through insulating spacers M9, l5@ by means of which they are clamped to the magnet yoke S5. The cradle arm |57 has a pivot hole i5! seated on a pivot pin |52 held in a longitudinal bore of a mounting screw |53 mounted in the suitably threaded hole IM of the gimbal bracket #i2 so as to provide a pivotal support as accepta clamping block and the underlying clamped arm of the cradle bracket |46, and an angularly extending contact spring arm |63 arranged so as to establish and maintain contact engagement with the contact spring projection 76A of the terminal contact plate 76 overlying thek stationary microphone electrode 3|, in the Way indicated in Figs. 16 and 19. A contact spring |64 having a bent anchoring portion |65 held clamped to a connector extending from the underlying terminal bushing 36 has at its upper end a contact portion |66 provided with a hole fitting over the pivot sleeve IGI and arranged to press against the facing surface of the cradle bracket |46 so as to establish a good slidingcontact engagement therewith, all rotary sliding contact'surfaces being provided with layers of non-oxidizing material, such as platinum.

By this arrangement, the metallic cradle arm |56, which is insulatingly clamped to the pivotally mounted amplifier unit, and the gimbal bracket iti, which is insulatingly mounted on the top of the terminal block Lili, are utilized in conjunction with the contact springs |52V and |75 to complete the connection from the stationary microphone electrode 3| to the terminal bushing 36 of the base to which the lead from the receiver 23 is connected in the Way shown in Fig. l.

The circuit connection between the battery plug 26 to the vibratory microphone electrode 3| and the other end of the actuating coil 33, which are connected to the metallic body of the magnetic structure, is completed by elements insulatingly mounted in and adjacent to the gimbal bracket |75, in the way shown in Figs. 14 to 18.r

In the pivot sleeve i6! of the gimbal bracket iti is slidably' mounted a contact pin |711 which is of the cradle arm itl is likewise provided with a similar layer of platinum. In the form shown, one end of the actuating coil 33 of the vibrating structure is connected t@ the cradle arm |i7 which is connected through pin |52 to the gimbal bracket |412. As shown in Fig. 17, the anchoring portion of the gimbal bracket |62 is connected by a connector strip |55 embedded in the base plate it@ to the bushing 3S of the terminal block to which the lead from the transmitter microphone is connected.

The other cradle arm |536 has a pivot` hole it@ which is pivotally mounted on a pivot sleeve ici extending from the hole |63 of the other gimbal bracket |62. The pivot pin |52 and the pivot sleeve iti serve thus as a pivot support for the two cradle arms |45, |57 of the microphone arnplifler structure.' The brackets |46, |47 and their pivot holes |68; |6| are so aligned and arranged parallel to the horizontal axis extending through the center of gravity of the amplier microphone As shown in Figs. 14, .l5 and 19, acontact spring.

|62 has an arm clamped between the insulating with a head |75 which is insulated from the adl jacent outer surface of the gmbal bracket lili by an insulating sheet |75. The head |75 of the contact pin |70 is pressed inwardly against the contact pin by one arm |77 of va contact spring, the other bent arm |78 of which is clamped to an end portion |79 of a contact strip |80 insulatingly embedded in the base plate Mii, the other end of the contact strip |80 being connected to the battery plug 27 of the base plate.

The clamped portion |78 of the contact spring |77 has also an arcuately bent arm |82 embracing the casing of the electrolytc condenser 38 and establishing the circuit connection to one terminal of the condenser, the bottom of the metallic exterior of the condenser 33 being insulated from the metallic connector portions extending in the base by portions of the insulating sheet |76, arranged in the way shown in Fig. 14. The contact pin |70 insulatingly mounted in the pivot sleeve iti of the gimbal bracket Mi provides thus in conjunction with contact springs |73, |77 engaging the opposite ends of the pin and insulated from the cradle arm |46 and the gimbal bracket EM a circuit connection between the battery plug terminal 27 of the base and the vibratory amplifier microphone electrode 32 and the end of the actuating coil 33 connected thereto,` the rotary sliding contact surfaces between lremain at all times connected in the hearing aid circuits which are completed through the plugs 26, 21 and the terminal bushings 34 to 38 of the base. In addition, the contact spring |11 is designed to exert pressure required to maintain the amplifier unit in its proper pivotal operating position between the two pivot supports while serving as a resilient shock absorbing support. The gimbal brackets |4I, |42 are sufficiently high as to permit the amplifier to freely revolve on its pivotal support. A

When an amplifier microphone of the type shown in Figs. 14 to 19 is mounted in its operating 'position on a support, for instance, by mounting its base '|40 on the Atop of a fiat battery casing having an aligning wall 39 bearing against the body of the user, such as the side or front portion thereof, the amplifier microphone which is pivotally mounted on such support will maintain its microphone electrode surfaces inV vertical position' while the body portion against -which it is worn is in vertical position as well as when it is tilted to a horizontal position, irrespective of whether the aligning wall 39 of the support is held against the side or front or rear portion ofthe body, since each time the support is tilted, the gravitational forces swing the amplifier unit on its pivotal mountings so as to maintain the amplifier microphone electrodes in the desired vertical position.

As in the other amplifier units, the casing detachably secured to the base |40 protects the elements against tampering.

Such amplifier may be provided with means for locking the amplifier unit in a fixed position on the base so as to prevent its swinging motion relatively to the base, while it is being shipped, for instance. As shown in Fig. 15,r a screw |85 threadedly mounted in a hole within the gimbal bracket, |42, is arranged so that when it is is united, as by soldering, across the spacer 90 to the central diaphragm section |9| similar to the diaphragmmnits of Figs. 3 to 5. As shown in Fig. 22', an armature |93 connected throughl spring portions |94 of a cross diaphragm having its end portions I 94 united, as by soldering, across spacers |95 to the border portions -|90 of the central diaphragm sections so as to carry in suspension, by means of the spring strips |92, the central diaphragm section |9I, and the vibratory microphone electrode 32 united thereto.

As shown in Fig. 20, the clamping edges |88.

of the main diaphragm unit |81 are provided with clamping and spacer blocks |88', |88" for clamping the entire diaphragm structure in its position on the microphone chamber plate. Since the edges of the vibratory microphone electrode 32 project beyond the edges of the central diaphragm section 9| of the diaphragm unit |81, it may be desirable to stabilize it against a tilting or rocking action as it is being vibrated.

In. order to provide such stable support for the vibratory microphone electrode 32, its backing layer 85 maybe made of a rectangular sheet metal element, a' plan view, of which is shown in Fig. 24, having a central portion |96 connected by flexible spoke-like spring strips |91 to screwed inwardly, the end of the screw enters a I locking hole 86 in the` cradle arm 1w-Upon turning the screw |85 until its end is withdrawn from the locking hole |85. the amplifier unit is released from its locking engagement and is free to swing on its gimbal support.

In Figs. 20 to 23 is shown another form of vibratory amplifier microphone electrode structure combining two coupled vibratory systems having different resonant frequencies in the principal part of the speech frequency range. It comprises a main substantially rectangular diaphragm unit |81, a plan view of which is shown in Fig. 23, made by punching from a fiat sheet of spring material. The two shorter sides of the rectangular diaphragm structure |81 form clamping edge sections |88, the ends of which are connected by scribed ment actuated by input currents clamping end strips |98 which are united to the clamping edges` |88 of the main diaphragm |81, as in the diaphragm structure of Figs. 3 to 5.

Instead of securing the magnetic armature to the end portions |90 of the central diaphragm section |9| and the vibratory microphone electrode' to its central diaphragm section |9I, the

armature may be secured to the central diaphragm section |9| and the vibratory microphone electrode 32 may be secured to the endv portions |90 of the central diaphragm section |9|. By proper proportioning of the' spring elements and the distribution of the masses in such diaphragm structure, operating results similar to those obtained with the other microphone electrode diaphragm structures-may be secured.

Other modifications of the invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be construed broadly and that they shall not be limited to the specific details shown and dein connection with exemplifications thereof.

It is claimed:

l. In a microphone amplifier arrangeof the speech frequency range for producing amplified output currents supplied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device Worn on the body of the user, an amplifier microphone unit comprising a microphone chamber confining ahollow space, a vibratory microphone'electrode of one polarity having a vibratory electrode surface bordering one side of said chamber spaceya microphone electrode of opposite polarity having an electrode surface facing another side of said chamber space, and a quantity of microphone granules loosely placed in said chamber so as to produce variations of the current in said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted to said granules by said vibratory electrode if its electrode surface is maintained in a generally vertical direction, vibratory driving means actuated by currents in said input circuit for imparting a vibratory motion to said vibratory electrode, a support for said microphone amplifier unit designed to be worn by the user having van aligning surface bearing against the usersbody, a holding member for holding said amplier unit on said support so as to maintain said vibratory electrode surface in a generally vertical direction when said aligning surface is maintained in a general vertical direction, said holding member including junction means designed and arranged to provide for holding said amplifier unit in different angular positions relatively to said aligning surface so as to maintain said vibratory electrode surface in'a generally vertical direction While said support is tilted from its vertical position to horizontal position.

2. In a microphone amplifier arrangement actuated by input currents of the speech frequency range for producing amplied output currents supplied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device worn on the body of the user, an ampiier microphone unit comprising a microphone chamber confining a hollow space, a vibratory microphone electrode of one polarity having a vibratory electrode surface bordering one side of said chamber space, a microphone electrode ofopposite polarity having an electrode surface facing another side of said chamber-space, and a quantity of microphone granules loosely placed in said chamber so as to produce variations of the current in said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted to said granules by said vibratory electrode if its electrode surface is maintained in a generally vertical direction,l vibratory driving means actuated by currents in said input circuit for imparting a vibratory motion to said vibratory electrode, a support for said microphone amplifier unit designed to be Worn by the user having an aligning surface bearing against the users body, a holding member for holding said amplifier unit on said support so as to maintain said vibratory electrodesurface in a generally vertical direction when said aligning surface is maintained in a general vertical direction, said holding member including junction means designed and `arranged to provide for holding said ampiler unit in dilerent angular positions relatively to said aligning surface so as to maintain said vibratory electrode surface in a generally vertical direction while said support is tilted in a plane either parallel or perpendicular to its aligning surface.

3. In a microphone amplifier arrangement actuated by input currents of the speech irequency range for producing amplied output currents supplied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device worn on the body of the user, an ampliier microphone unit comprising a microphone chamber confining a hollow space, a vibratory microphone electrode of one polarity having a vibratory electrode surface lbordering one side of said chamber space, a microphone electrode of opposite polarity having an Velectrode surface facing another side of said chamber space, and a quantity of microphone granules loosely placed in said chamber so as to produce variations of the current in said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted. to said granules by said vibratory -electrode if its electrode surface is maintained in a generally vertical direction, vibratory driving means actuated by currents in said input circuit for imparting a vii-ratory motion to said vibratory electrode, a support for said microphone amplifier unit designedy to be worn by the user having an aligning surface bearing against the users body, a holding member forholding said amplier unit on said support so as to maintain said vibratory electrode maestose surface in a generally vertical direction when said aligningsurface is maintained in a general vertical direction, said holding member including junction means designed and arranged to provide for holding said amplifier unit in dierent angular positions relatively to said aligning surface so as to maintain said vibratory electrode surface in a generally vertical direction while said support is tilted from its verticalposition to horizontal position, said junction means including circuit elements constituting parts of said input and said output circuits.

4. In a, microphone amplier arrangement actuated by input currents of the speech frequency range for producing amplied output currents supplied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device worn on the body of the user, an amplier microphone unit comprising a microphone chamber conning a hollow space, a vibratory microphone electrode of one polarity having a vibratory electrode surface bordering one side of said chamber space, a microphone electrode of opposite polarity having an electrode surface facing another side of said chamber space, and a quantity .or microphone granules loosely placed in said chamber so as to produce variations of the currentin said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted to said granules by said vibratory electrode if its electrode surface is maintained in a generally vertical direction, vibratory driving means actuated by currents in said input circuit for imparting a vibratory motion to said vibratory electrode, a support for said microphone amplier unit designed to be Worn by the user having an aligning surface bearing against theusers body,

a holding member for holding said amplifier unit on said support so as to maintain said vibratory electrode surface in a generally vertical direction when said aligning surface is maintained in a general vertical direction, said holding member including junction means designed and arranged to provide for holding said amplifier unit in different angular positions relativelyv to said aligning surface soas to maintain said vibratory electrode surface in a generally vertical direction while said support is tilted in a plane either parallel or perpendicular to its aligning surface, said junction means including circuit elements constituting parts of said input and said output circuits.

5. ln a microphone amplier arrangement actuated by input currents of the speech frequency range for producing amplied output currents supplied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device worn on the body of the user, an ampliiler mlcrophone'comprising a vibratory electrode having an inwardly facing vibratory microphone electrode of one polarity, a microphone electrode of opposite polarity, and a quantity of microphone granules held between said electrodes so as to produce variations of the current in said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted to said granules by said vibratory electrode; a support including vibratory driving means actuated by said input currents for inducing corresponding vibratory forces; a vibratory spring diaphragm structure having two opposite end portions clamped to said support; said diaphragm structure including an intermediate mass element, two spring elements connecting saidintermediate mass element to the two end portions of .said diaphragm structure and an inner mass element having two spring elements connecting it to said intermediate mass element;

said vibratory electrode forming part of one of said two mass elements; the other of said mass elements being arranged so as to be driven by said vibratory force and impart vibratory forces to said vibratory electrode; the masses and spring element of said diaphragm structure be- `ing so designed and proportioned as to form a range for producing amplified output currents supv plied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device worn on the body of the user, an amplifier microphone comprising a vibratory electrode having an inwardly facing vibratory microphone electrode of one polarity, a microphone electrode of opposite polarity, and a quantity of microphone granules held between said electrodes so as to produce variations of the current in said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted to said granules by said vibratory electrode; a support including vibratory driving means actuated Vquency range; said intermediate mass element forming part of a diaphragm u nit having portions constituting parts of the end portions of said diaphragm structure.

7. In a microphone amplifier arrangement 4actuated by input currents of the speech frequency range for producing amplified output currents supplied to an output circuit of a hearing aid device Worn on the body of the user, an amplifier microphone comprising a vibratory electrode having an inwardly facing vibratory microphone electrode of one polarity, a microphone electrode by said input currents for inducing corresponding vibratory forces; a vibratory spring diaphragm structure having two opposite end portions clamped to said support; said diaphragm structure including an intermediate' mass element, two spring elements connecting said intermediate mass element to the two end portions of said diaphragm structure and an inner mass element having two spring elements connecting it to said intermediate mass element; said vibratory electrode forming part of one of'said two mass elements; the other of said mass elements being arranged so as to be driven by said vibratory force and impart vibratory forces to said vibratory electrode; the masses and spring element of said diaphragm structure being so designed and proportioned as to form a coupled vibratory system having one resonance frequency in one part of the speech frequency range and another resonant frequency in another part of the speech freof opposite polarity, and a quantity of microphone granules held between said electrodes so as to produce variations of the current in said output circuit in response to the vibratory motion imparted to said granules by said vibratory electrode; a support including vibratory driving means actuated by said input currents for inducing corresponding vibratory forces; a vibratory spring diaphragm structure having two opposite end portions clamped to said support; said diaphragm structure including an intermediate mass element, two spring elements connecting said intermediate mass element to the end portions of said diaphragm structure and an inner mass element having two spring elements connecting it to said intermediate mass element; said vibratory electrode forming part of one of said two mass elements; the other of said mass elements being arranged so as to be driven by said vibratory force and impart vibratory forces to said vibratory electrode; the masses and spring element of said diaphragm structure being so designed and proportioned as to form a coupled vibratory system having one resonance frequency in one part of the speech frequency range and another resonant frequency in another part of the speech frequency range; said intermediate mass element and said inner mass element forming parts of two superposed diaphragm units having portions constituting parts of the end portions of said diaphragm structure.

AUGUST B. MUNDEL.

KOKEN 

